Monday, September 29, 2014

The LSGTPA tractor pulling teams rolled into the oldest town
in Johnson County, as the eighth stop on the 2014 pulling schedule featured an
event in Alvarado, Texas. Alvarado was first surveyed around 1841, and
was organized into town lots by 1851. The settlement grew with the
development of the intersection between the Gulf-Colorado-Santa Fe, and the
Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroads. The town became a popular destination
for commerce and celebration. In 1893, the Johnson County Pioneers &
Old Settlers Association was formed, and with assistance from John James, the
Reunion Grounds were developed as a community property for gatherings and
events. It is upon this site, that the LSGTPA drivers and
machines gathered to compete in two rounds of tractor pulling action.

Payton Le'ann Alaniz performs the National Anthem during opening ceremonies of the LSGTPA event in Alvarado.

Opening ceremonies included an outstanding National Anthem
performance, by the talented Payton Le'ann Alaniz. The Youth Class
competitors then took stage, as Jared Stephan pulled to a victory aboard his
'Iron Head' machine. Mason Hovind piloted his 'Yes Deere' entry to the
runnerup position, and Lane Duncan drove the 'Texas T-Rex' tractor into the
third spot. Kody Langham placed the BSC entry into the fourth place,
while Jared Stephan rode the 'Rusteze' machine into the fifth spot.

Kody Langham hangs on to his BSC sponsored tractor during the LSGTPA tractor pull in Alvarado, Texas.

In Stock Class, Aidan Hovind placed the 'Yes Deere' entry at
the front of the pack, with Kolby Langham scoring the runnerup. Claude Lewis
finished with a third and fourth place pull, aboard his machines, with Aidan
Hovind returning to score a fifth place finish aboard the 'Rusteze'
tractor. In Stock Diesel, Ken Langham used a Full Pull on the 200
foot track, to score the win, with Steve Hovind finishing in the runnerup spot
aboard his 'Mean Green Pulling Team' John Deere. In Big Stock, John
Aufdenkamp took first place aboard his 'Outlaw Pulling' entry. Alex Jesko
scored a runnerup finish, with Kolby Langham riding 'Texas Thunder' to a third
place pull. Jerry Toland took his 'Triple Deuce' machine to fourth,
while Alton Degner scored a top five finish aboard his 'It'll Do' tractor.

Aidan Hovind finishes off a great pull, during the LSGTPA event at the Pioneers and Old Settlers Reunion Grounds in Alvarado.

Stock Altered tractors were led by Ken Langham, Sr. with a
Full Pull, with Alex Jesko scoring the runnerup. John Aufdenkamp placed
third and Stan Williams scored a fourth place finish. Motorcycle Class
tractors featured a two tractor shootout, with Steve Pierce aboard 'Buzzards
Roost' taking the win. Paul Smith piloted his 'Texan' tractor to
the runnerup finish. Paul Smith returned with his 'Texan' tractor, to
take the victory in the Outlaw Class, with Stan Williams scoring the runnerup
finish.

Jerry Toland powers the 'Triple Deuce' machine downtrack in Alvarado.

The Mini Rod Class tractors put on a great show, with Colby
Crowe scoring a win aboard his 'Weekend Warrior' machine. Jerry Toland
place his 'Shinin Time' tractor in the runnerup spot, with David Houchen riding
his 'Back In The Day' machine to a third place finish. Sarah Moody,
aboard her turbocharged diesel tractor, pulled to the fourth place position.
The Super Rod Class tractors closed the show, with a series of wild
pulls. After the dust had cleared, Thomas Kimmons held the top spot
aboard 'Fired Up', with Ken Langham Sr. scoring the runnerup finish.
Donny Mayo turned in a third place finish, aboard his six cylinder 'Blackfoot
Squaw' tractor. Randell Moody drove the 'Ridge Runner' tractor to fourth
place, with John Kiemele and the 'Dodge This' tractor taking a top five
finish.

Colby Crowe and his 'Weekend Warrior' tractor at work, at the LSGTPA event in Alvarado.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Lone Star Garden Tractor Pulling Teams are preparing for the second event, of a five-in-a-row series to finish the 2014 pulling season. Having pulled at the Bartlett Old Town Festival this previous weekend, the teams will perform maintenance on their machines to prepare for Saturday's event.

The Johnson County Antique Tractor Pull and Show will host the LSGTPA teams, in two rounds of tractor pulling action. The event is scheduled for a 2pm start, following the antique show and pull portion of the program. Opening ceremonies will feature our National Anthem performance, by Payton Le'Ann Alaniz.

The track is located on the historic Pioneers and Old Settlers Reunion Grounds park, in Alvarado. (111 Reunion Drive, Alvarado, Tx, 76009)

John Kiemele and 'Dodge This' will be among the LSGTPA pulling teams in Alvarado.

The LSGTPA tractor pulling machines will provide plenty of wheels up action in Alvarado on Saturday, September 27.

Monday, September 22, 2014

A community of settlers within the Texas Blackland Prairie region, organized on land provided by John T. Barlett, and established the town of Bartlett, Texas in 1881. Cotton flourished in the area, producing record crops in the rich blackland soil. The challenge of transporting the cotton, was met with the forming of Bartlett as a stop on the MKT Railroad, and with the operation of the storied Bartlett Western Railroad from 1909-1935.

Bartlett Western Railroad

It would be along the historic railroad tracks, that the LSGTPA tractor pulling teams would explore the challenges of blackland transportation, during the Old Town Festival Tractor Pull. The blackland track site had been exposed to more than three inches of rain, during the days before the event. On pull day, the track possessed the moisture content, which allows blackland to become very sticky. Brief showers throughout the pull, however, added another variable to the mix. As farmers in the area would know, blackland can also become very slick, with added moisture on a hard packed surface. It would indeed be a tricky track, which would provide plenty of action througout the day.

The Youth Class pullers would be the first class to hook to the LSGTPA sled, and Kody Langham would lead the pack with a first place finish. Jared Stephan would pilot his 'Iron Head' machine to the runnerup position, with Lane Duncan steering his 'Texas T-Rex' to the third place spot. Mason Hovind would finish in the fourth position, abaord the 'Yes Deere' tractor. In Stock Class, Kolby Langham took the top honors, with Claude Lewis finishing second and third aboard his two tractors. Aidan Hovind scored a fourth place finish aboard the 'Yes Deere' entry. Stock Diesel featured a two tractor pull off, with Steve Hovind scoring the victory and Ken Langham Jr, scoring the runnerup finish.

Lane Duncan hangs on to his 'Texas T-Rex' Youth Class Tractor at the Old Town Festival Tractor Pull in Bartlett

In the Big Stock Class, it was the Kolby Langham show taking center stage. Langham scored the first Full Pull of the day, aboard his 'Texas Thunder' tractor, to score the win. Jerry Toland drove his 'Triple Deuce' to the runnerup finish, with Alton Degner placing third aboard 'It'll Do'. In Stock Altered, Ken Langham Sr, scored the victory, with Michael Mayberry and his 'Pulling for Peanuts' machine finishing in the runnerup spot. The Motorcycle Class category featured a Full Pull by Paul Smith, aboard his 'Texan' tractor, scoring the win. Steve Pierce piloted his 'Buzzards Roost' machine, to a clutch wounding runnerup finish. Paul Smith returned to the track, to take the victory in the Outlaw Class, aboard his 'Texan' tractor.

Kolby Langham pilots 'Texas Thunder' to a Full Pull and to a win at Bartlett.

Jerry Toland aboard his 'Triple Deuce' tractor at the Old Town Festival LSGTPA event.

The Mini Rods put on a great show, with David Houchen taking the win aboard his ' Back In The Day' tractor. Sarah Moody piloted her '99% Moody', turbocharged diesel entry, to the runnerup position. Colby Crowe took the 'Weekend Warrior' machine to the third place position, with Jerry Toland driving the 'Shinin Time' tractor to the fourth spot.

Steve Pierce and the 'Buzzards Roost' tractor at work in Bartlett.

'Back In The Day' launches downtrack with David Houchen at the wheel in Bartlett.

Sarah Moody rolls coal aboard '99% Moody' in Bartlett, Texas.

The Super Rod Class tractors closed the show, with Randell Moody scoring his second win in a row, aboard the 'Ridge Runner' entry. Donny Mayo pulled to the runnerup position, with two wild rides aboard his 'Blackfoot Squaw' tractor. John Kiemele finished on the podium, with a third place finish aboard his 'Dodge This' tractor. Ken Langham Sr. finished in the fourth position, after a wild ride resulted in an out-of-bounds pass that scored a DQ on his second attempt.

Ken Langham hangs on during a wild ride aboard the Bonham Service Center tractor.

Donny Mayo reels in the 'Blackfoot Squaw' tractor on a tricky track in Barlett.

Jerry Toland pilots the 'Dodge This' entry of John Kiemele during the Old Town Festival pull.

Randell Moody takes the 'Ridge Runner' to victory at the Old Town Festival Tractor Pull in Bartlett.

The Texas A&M Aggie Pullers were on hand with two tractors, which the team entered as exhibition pullers. The collegiate tractor pulling team put on a great show, scoring a Full Pull among four pulling attempts. The A&M team will compete in 2015 in Peoria, Illinois, during the ASABE International Quarter Scale Tractor Student Design Competition.

Visit the www.LSGTPA.com webpage for the remaining LSGTPA 2014 events.

Friday, September 12, 2014

The LSGTPA tractor pulling teams will be preparing for the next stop on the 2014 pulling schedule, which will be the old Katy Railroad stop of Bartlett Texas, on Saturday September 20. The annual Old Town Festival event in Bartlett, will feature the LSGTPA tractor pulling teams on the seventh stop of the 2014 season. Pullers from throughout the state will converge on Bartlett, for a high noon shootout, at the LSGTPA pulling track located at 501 South Dalton Street (Bartlett, Tx 76511), next to the Dollar General.